"Turning Point In European Monetary Policy" - Is Germany About To Embrace Inflation?

When we presented the latest chart of the Bundesbank's record TARGET2 imbalance last night we had one simple message: we hope Germany is prepared for the rout its central bank will soon experience once the Eurozone's members start dropping like flies. Today it appears that Germany has decided to go with the flow, and in what Spiegel classifies as a "turning point in monetary policy" notes that Germany, in an abrupt shift to its Weimar-impacted history, is getting ready to embrace inflation. What this likely means is that the ECB is about to set off on its most aggressive monetization experiment ever, which also explains why all of Europe is trading diggy limit up this morning: it is not on the latest batch of horrible news - it is on the return of speculation that the ECB is, with the Bundesbank's blessing, baaaack.

The inflation is still fear of a German subject. After all, the country experienced from 1914 to 1923 one of the most radical currency devaluations, which came in a large industrial nation ever. A rise in consumer prices is so politically sensitive still. Now, the German central bank still dares approach the subject - albeit with extreme caution.

The Bundesbank estimates that Germany will soon have an inflation rate that is above the average in the European Economic and Monetary Union. So it pushed Jens Ulbrich, who heads the economics department of the Bundesbank, at a hearing in the Finance Committee of the Bundestag, the Dow Jones news agency reported on Wednesday.

In Germany, inflation is currently lower than the average for the euro-zone. Economists expect but also that it increases soon. In collective bargaining were last achieved significantly higher wage settlements, even Germany's finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble (CDU) warned at the weekend to significant wage increases. Does not increase productivity at the same rate, reduces the price competitiveness of Germany. Also, this would reduce the imbalances in Europe.

Naturally, since central planners are in charge, they posit that this shift to nearly one century of monetary prudence can be moderate, and will take place calmly and peacefully:

he increase would take place only from very low to a moderate level. Could be meant a transient level of about 2.5 to 2.6 percent. And yet: The announcement by the Bundesbank pursued in the scientific world with great interest. The British "Financial Times" evaluates it as a signal that the Bundesbank loosened its rigid inflation policy. The economist Carsten Brzeski of the Dutch bank ING sees it as a "major breakthrough". The Bundesbank admit the first time that Germany must take responsibility for a new balance in the euro area, he said the "Financial Times Germany" ("FTD").

Consumer prices are expected to rise for a simple reason, according to Ulbrich: Europe's politicians are increasingly trying to reduce so-called current account imbalances. With this in the broadest sense, the international flow of goods are intended. Countries in southern Europe have more imported than exported for years, while wages increased in these countries. Funding has been the high cost with new loans, so indebted to the Southern European countries more and more.

The irony is that Germany is funding the current account deficits of the rest of Europe. The fact that inflation in Germany has been stable has allowed this. Start adding inflation and things will get out of hand quickly.

But that is not the real reason for the about face in German monetary policy: what it really is getting at, is to telegraph that the Bundesbank is now most likely open to far more aggressive intervention by the ECB, whose LTRO has now failed miserably, and nothing short of outright monetization (in the primary market: the secondary market purchase program: the SMP is also a failure) will prevent the collapse of the union, especially once Greece leaves.

In other words, the stage for the world's next epic monetization episode is now being set, with a hapless Germany, dragged kicking and screaming into. And why not: just ask any central planner - "it is for their own good."

The end game is for the Germans to control Europe and the debasement of the Euro will ultimately give the Germans that total control they have always sought. The havok that will come will drive all of Europe to federalize their government and centralize the power.

A bit of printing does not necessarily result in hyper-inflation. Our goverment has been printing since its founding which for example is why a loaf of bread is hitting about $4 rather than the old price of about $.05. Hyper-inflation would be caused by a loss in faith in the currency - could happen any time.

I don't understand how you can blame capitalism when it is the debt that has caused our problems. Blame the Congress for creating the Fed, and blame the Fed for creating a debt based currency, and for institutionalizing fractional reserve banking. If we collectively blame the wrong culprits we'll end up building another flawed system from the ashes of this ponzi.

Well, commodities and precious metals have been subjected to a controlled demolition over the past few weeks in preparation for something, that seems clear.

Maybe it's a new inflationary blowout in Europe, maybe it's the impending Debt Ceiling fiasco in the US, but for certain, something nasty is coming around the corner that requires prices to be dramatically lowered beforehand.

The thing is that actual gold being bought and sold comprises only a few percent of the dysfunctional 'Gold' market. The sellers are selling something completely different from what the buyers are buying.

You can easily manipulate the price up or down $50 without ever owning, buying or selling any metal.

As long as you ensure that the regulators are looking the other way and continue sitting on their 4+ year long metals market investigation indefinitely.

I can't understand how the market can be rigged that way? Is it really possible with the HFT:s? I suppose they could just do circular trades to eachother to get the prices down, so you're probably right.

- Accumulation/distribution on PM going parabolic. Demand seems very strong. How many solar panels does it take to replace a nuclear power plant?

- JPM seems to be quietly exiting their shorts. This week's COT should be interesting. More interesting will be if they start unloading on the next move up. Gut feeling this is a huge flush.

- Europe and Japan are printing or on hold until FED starts, and the latter are only holding because the US has a trade deficit which is already affecting GDP.

- No talk about National Debt Limit increase coming soon.

- Political pressure to print. Yes print. Politicians get elected because they offer stuff and not because they offer financial responsability that is the lesson from Europe. Obama is sure taking notes.

Just what could be expected. There were only two viable options to solve the crisis. One was to let capitalism have its way and ass rape the banks. This was not politically possible of course, so the other solution was inflation. Nice going jackasses! Get ready to get sideswept by the next nazi wave over europe.

My BS alarm is going off full volume. Always remember when the magician is waving the shiny bauble in front of your eyes his other hand is picking your pocket. This is just the new version of the China bailout stories from last year.

So what they are saying is that not only is the banking system in jeopardy in the EU, but Germany has no organic growth and will have to fake growth through monetary loosening.Way to follow in our footsteps, Germany, but you’re still a three decades behind us. Get with the program so that we can have super-global-inflation. It’ll be awesome watching the printing press get out of control from CB to CB.

Germany is an exporter...they are selling alot of cars to Chinese....BUT they also export to the rest of the EU...I bet there are some very angry EU member and they do not like the Germans anymore.....they can buy elsewhere I bet...

Germany accidently going inflationary as an unforeseen consequence of the euro crack-up would be no more surprising than the Federal Reserve, after 15 years of publishing papers about 'how to avoid becoming Japan,' finding itself with a multi-trillion dollar balance sheet while its policy rate remains stuck at zero and the economy treads water.

On a long enough timeline, fiat currency makes a fool of every central planner. Including German ones.

maybe due to common fiscal policy? i dont see the ECB loosening money due to the BuBa allowing higher inflation. in fact, this will help stabilizing the euro-system itself, and thus less probable for the ecb starting further ltros. of course, this is only necessary, because of there-is-no-alternative-merkel. but there is an alternative. and that would allow BuBa not to set up higher inflation.

it is planned to be a temporary measure, of course still with risks and has to be observed. but this is mainly meant to release pressure on the periphery, so that austerity can have effect... otherwise, it won't, as you can see in greece and spain. so, one could also say, BuBa comes a little late, but comes. ;-)

edit: once the euro-system is stabilized, inflation can be brought back, and then for the whole euro area

People all over the world, join hands
Start a love inflation train, love inflaion train
People all over the world, join hands
Join a love inflation train, love nflation train
The next stop that we make will be England
Tell all the folks in Russia and China too
Don't you know that it's time to get on board
And let this train keep on riding, riding on throughMy apologies to the O'Jays but it looks like the 70's are back

This article is lightweight and nothing new. Germany had a target inflation <2% which is a joke because food and energy costs are way ahead of this as are rents and petrol and health insurance. It is gibberish. The ECB cannot raise interest rates so the Bundesbank has to make out it accepts temporarily higher inflation simply because it cannot do anything about it. If fuel price inflation and food price inflation came DOWN to 4% people would be ecstatic.

I wonder if they can get another 2 or 3 Angels to dance on the Pin-head

Germany is clearly preparing itself for the strong inflation which is soon coming to this theater. Or all theaters around the world.

A few weeks ago Government employees got a appx. 5% pay hike. Metallworkers get about the same. Minister Schaeuble tells the public: Its time now that the employees do get a mayor pay hike now in this year. 5 to 6% is just fine.

Its fits all well. Exports reached a new high last month but also imports. Order books are full. Till now germany is booming. Thanks to the markets in China, Russia and Eastern Europe Germany is booming that is fact. Unemployment is lowest since more than 20 years. Tax revenues are strongly rising. Government is investing. Next years tax estimate is significantly higher again (despite the fact that this year looks already like a new record). Main reasons the increased salaries (income tax) and the general higher prices which increase directly the amount of the Value Added Tax (VAT).

The announced and forward pushed pay hikes for the employees is now top priority of Frau Merkel, so that the coming inflation is not hitting the normal people to hard. Fortunately the German state and the business sector is able to pay more and this is what they are doing now in preparation for the upcoming inflation.

You know what. My respect for Frau Merkel is ever growing. She should be a candidate for the next Nobel Price for Economy. Go Angela Dragonkiller, go, go.

Or no, better not !!! Obama gave such a bad example. He received the Peace prize but as a result he is the first President permanent at war all around the world but all undeclared wars. Not real wars, or ? He should have receive the War Prize instead which would have fitted well also to the Dynamite Nobel AG which is still a leading producer of high tech explosive material. Another leading candidate for the War Prize would be Cameron and Sarkozy. Ok, Sarko is now not anymore in the official competition. He returned to his old job at the CIA. But who knows really whats next on his to-do list. There is still unfinished business for him in Syria.

Probably I misunderstand, but what I thought the Bundesbank said was '...we are now prepared to tolerate Germany having an inflation rate higher than the average in the Eurozone'.

Which I thought was pretty clever, because it _appears_ to be a weakening statement (which the politicians will want), but in actual fact, bearing in mind the large-scale EUR debt destruction that seems likely in the near future, it is nothing of the sort.

The debt destruction is _de_flationary, so with average inflation -ve, the Bundesbank can keep its word (and its mandate) with German inflation at zero.

As I said, probably I misunderstand.

But I would point out that the Bundesbank has a long tradition of being far cleverer than German politicians...

And I don't see the Bundesbank giving up on its anti-inflationary traditions for Angela Merkel...